Method for operating a navigation system for a vehicle and corresponding navigation system

ABSTRACT

A method for operating a navigation system and a navigation system for a vehicle, in which data regarding geographic positions of the vehicle are ascertained by a positioning system and transmitted to an electronic data processing device having access to a database and a digital road map, on the basis of this data the location of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined and destination guidance instructions are output visually and/or acoustically to the driver of the vehicle, wherein additional information can be stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or other passengers in the vehicle and output via the navigation system, this additional information being loaded into the navigation system in the form of program “navlets” which are usable by the driver and/or other passengers in the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for operating a navigationsystem and a navigation system for a vehicle, in which data regardingthe geographic position are ascertained by a positioning system andtransmitted to an electronic data processing device with access to adatabase and a digital road map, and on the basis of those data thelocation of the vehicle on the digital road map is determined anddestination guidance instructions are output visually and/oracoustically to the driver of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional navigation systems for vehicles, in particular motorvehicles, and methods for operating such navigation systems, alreadyexist. They serve to determine the present geographic position of thevehicle, to calculate the most favorable route of travel as a functionof a definable destination that is to be reached, and give the driverinstructions as to the route of travel.

These conventional navigation systems require information that isnecessary for determining the present location of the vehicle andcalculating the route of travel. This information includes, for example,road layouts, turning conditions, etc. This data is made available inthe form of a database. For this purpose the database encompasses, forexample, a so-called digital map that contains way points and/ordecision points for the possible routes. The database may be maintainedin vehicle-installed mass storage by conventional means such as, forexample, a CD-ROM.

Also necessary is a positioning system that identifies the presentgeographic position of the vehicle. The satellite-based GlobalPositioning System (GPS) may, for example, serve this purpose.

An electronic data processing device processes the position datafurnished by the positioning system along with the data stored in thedigital road map and determines the present position of the vehicle.Destination guidance information corresponding to the selecteddestination may then be provided, visually and/or acoustically, to thedriver by the electronic data processing device, based on way pointsand/or decision points on a selected optimum route of travel.

Conventional navigation systems for vehicles are substantially made upof individual components having different functions. At the beginning ofa trip, the driver first enters his or her desired destination into thenavigation system via an input unit. A route list is then generated by aroute calculation module using a database. This list is used by thedestination guidance system, in combination with the vehicle position,to generate driving instructions to the driver, which are output in theform of graphical instructions or in natural speech.

The interaction of the individual components is permanently defined inthis context. For example, once the route list has been calculated, itis modified only if the driver so wishes or if the destination guidancesystem detects that the previously calculated route has been departedfrom.

The type of output is also permanently defined. A user cannot, forexample, replace the symbolic images that are normally available withhis or her own symbols, or add additional information to them.

It is moreover difficult to incorporate additional functionality intothe system. There exist, for example, travel guides on data media,usually on CDs, which can be used instead of the data medium for theotherwise usual digital map, and which contain not only the minimumrequisite data but also additional information, for example regardingplaces of interest. This information can then be retrieved via thenavigation device. This information retrieval is accomplished, however,via the interface defined by the navigation device, so that theconfiguration options for the human-machine interface is limited. Sincethe otherwise usual digital map is moreover replaced by the travelguide, it must also contain all the data relevant for navigation. Theproduction of such travel guides is thus difficult, and there are only afew suppliers. Local travel guides whose subject matter is, for example,only a single city are practically never created.

A further deficit exists in the area of georeferencing. For example, itwould be desirable if a destination, e.g. a parking garage, is madeavailable in electronic form in an “approach description” that could beplayed back on the navigation device. It would thereby be possible toreach destinations that are not contained, or not correctly contained,in the map. For example, one could reach destinations located on streetsfor which no house number information is available, or entrances tobuildings that are not recorded (parking garage entrances, hotellobbies, etc.). Extensions for georeferencing based on the transmissionof data do exist at present, but because of the varying map formats ofdifferent suppliers, they are difficult to implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and a device for operating anavigation system for a vehicle where additional information can easilybe stored in the navigation system and can be retrieved as necessary bythe driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle and can beoutput via the navigation system.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, additionalinformation relevant for navigation is loaded into the navigation devicein the form of user programs, and is stored as so-called “navlets,”making it possible to easily store additional information in thenavigation system that can be retrieved as necessary by the driverand/or by other persons present in the vehicle, and can be output viathe navigation system.

Since the navlets have access to the output units, the ability to modifythe human-machine interface in the navigation system is possibleaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, it ispossible to make available a navlet which permits input of thedestination in a novel form. After the user has confirmed thedestination, it is transmitted to the navigation system and the navletterminates.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the navlets do not needto be associated with navigable map data and may contain additionalinformation. For example, a hotel chain could make available a navletthat allows access to all the chain's hotels in Germany. Not only couldthis directory contain comprehensive information about location,category, and number of rooms, but views and short video clips couldalso make it easier to select a hotel. Once the driver decides on ahotel, however, only the address of that hotel is forwarded to thenavigation system, and the navlet terminates.

Since the navlets are programs, it possible to exercise control over thenavigation procedures using navlets in another embodiment of the presentinvention. For example, a navlet may contain a tourist guide for a city.When the navlet is started, it transfers the first place being visitedto the navigation system, which then guides the user. The navlet ismeanwhile capable of outputting information about the first destinationvia the screen or the audio channel. Once the first destination has beenreached, the navlet can transfer the next destination to the navigationsystem. These operations can be continued indefinitely until the finaltrip destination has been reached.

In another embodiment of the present invention the navlets do not needto know the internal map format of the corresponding navigation device.It is entirely sufficient if data—in particular addresses (e.g., incity/street/number format) or coordinates (for example, in WGS 84format)—are interchanged via a defined interface with the navigationdevice. Since the navlets are programs, it may be possible for thenavlets to determine the type of navigation device and therebyeffectively utilize device-specific and/or data-specific advantages ofthe particular navigation device.

The georeferencing of objects is simplified by the use of navletsaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, avariety of conventional concepts allowing georeferencing to be describedby means of data may be used. When a destination georeference of thiskind is loaded into the navigation system according to the presentinvention, the navigation system is thus capable of calculating theappropriate route even if the destination is not itself contained in themap base. The present invention moreover makes even further capabilitiesavailable. For example, it is possible for navlets to guide actively tothe destination. On the one hand, the capabilities of the navigationsystem can be used; on the other hand, navlets can contain their owndriving instructions in the form of spoken texts, images, and videos.According to this embodiment, therefore, it is possible to provideindividual destination guidance that is tailored to the needs of theparticular customer.

In a further embodiment, the navlets may contain a mechanism forlocation-specific notification. Certain functions of the navlet can becalled up by the navigation system when the vehicle is in the vicinityof a defined point or within a region (state, district, city,neighborhood, etc.), or when an address (instantaneous position,instantaneous destination) matches a given address. When a hotel isinput via the navigation system, for example, it is possible for acorresponding navlet to start automatically and provide assistance. Inanother embodiment, a small icon (with distance indication) can appearautomatically on the screen when the vehicle approaches a restaurant orfast-food outlet. In a further embodiment, a third-party supplier canoffer a navlet that contains current detour recommendations for theentire country. As soon as the vehicle approaches a relevant city, thenavlet is automatically started and outputs the respectiverecommendations.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, all theinformation relevant for navigation is loaded into the navigation devicein the form of user programs. The user programs, as so-called navlets,have a function similar to the platform-independent applets used inconjunction with Internet browsers. An essential difference thus existsas compared to conventional navigation systems, in which information isloaded into the navigation device only in the form of data.

In another embodiment of the present invention, provision is made forthe functions of the navigation section of a navigation system to beused by the navlets via interfaces of the navigation system.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides that thefunctions of the navigation section used by the navlets are, inparticular, those such as:

-   -   querying and setting destinations and intermediate destinations        by way of destination addresses or destination coordinates;    -   querying the present position as text or coordinates;    -   querying the current route list;    -   querying the estimated driving time to the next (interim)        destination;    -   functions for setting parameters, for example the times for        periodic calls or criteria for geometric notification;    -   querying the type of navigation system and the revision status        of the firmware, the type and revision status of the database        (map), etc.

Provision is further made, in another embodiment of the presentinvention, for specific functions to be executed by each navlet, ofwhich one portion of the functions is directed toward the user'sparticular requirements and the other portion of the functions isdefined as standard.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the navigationsystem has a positioning system, an electronic data processing devicethat has access to a database having a digital road map, an input unit,and output units for visual and/or audio destination guidanceinstructions. The navigation system is made up of two main units, ofwhich the first main unit is a navigation section having the componentsof a navigation device, the navigation device being functionallyself-sufficient, and the second main unit is a device section for theexecution of user programs, which is connected via interfaces to thenavigation section, making it possible to provide a navigation system inwhich additional information can be stored in the navigation system andcan be retrieved as necessary by the driver and/or by other personspresent in the vehicle, and can be output via the navigation system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a conventional navigation system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a navigation system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a conventional navigation system fora motor vehicle. The navigation system is made up of several individualcomponents that are in functional connection with one another.

The navigation system consists of the following primary components: adatabase 14, route list 16, route calculation module 18, positioningsystem 20, and destination guidance unit 22.

The navigation system further encompasses an input unit 24 into whichthe driver enters his or her destination before beginning the trip; and,as output units, a visual output unit 26, for example a display, and anaudio output unit 28, for example a loudspeaker.

A navigation system according to the one embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The navigation system isassociated with a respective vehicle. It is made up of two main units10, 12 that are connected via two interfaces 34, 36. The first main unitis a navigation section 10 having the components of a conventionalnavigation device, the navigation device being functionallyself-sufficient. The second main unit is a device section 12 for theexecution of user programs.

Navigation section 10 of the navigation system according to thisembodiment of the present invention corresponds, in its general basicconstruction, to the conventional navigation system design depicted inFIG. 1. Navigation section 10 accordingly encompasses the followingprimary components: a database 14, a route list 16, a route calculationmodule 18, a positioning system 20, and a destination guidance unit 22.Also part of navigation section 10 are an input unit 24 for operation ofthe navigation system, a visual output unit 26 for the output of visualinstructions and information, and an audio output unit 28 for the outputof audio instructions and information.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the devicesection 12 of the navigation system encompasses the following primarycomponents: a user memory 38 and a virtual machine 32. Navlets 30 can bestored in user memory 38 in various quantities. Device section 12 of thenavigation system is connected respectively via two interfaces 34, 36 tonavigation section 10.

In contrast to operating system updates or firmware updates, navlets 30are independent from the actual operating system of the navigationsystem. Instead, these are applications that are executed within anoperating system or a virtual machine 32, and that have access tohigh-level functions of the navigation system. The use of navlets allowsa large pool of potential providers the ability to provide data to auser through the navigation system by programming navlets 30 and makingthem available. The invention makes it possible to achieve, with navlets30, additional benefits from navigation systems in vehicles similar tothe benefit of applets within the Internet.

In further embodiments of the present invention, alternative and/oradditional interfaces (not depicted) for data transfer, for exampleinfrared and radio, can be activated and used by navlets 30.

In the navigation system, respectively, user memory 38 is connected viaa first interface 34 to the navigation device 10, and via a secondinterface 36 to input unit 24 and to visual and audio output units 26,28.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the navlets 30 are writtenin a platform-independent programming language, such as the “Java”programming language. As a result, navlets 30 can be used flexibly innavigation systems.

Each navlet 30 may be configured in such a way that it has internal dataand functions. In addition to the internal data and functions, eachnavlet 30 may contain standard functions. The standard functions,according to one embodiment, may include functions such as:

an initialization function;

a delete function;

a start function;

a periodic call function;

a text notification function;

a geometric notification function; and

a further notification function.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, navlets 30 may beloadable into user memory 38 in different ways. A number of variantembodiments can be provided for this purpose.

One possible variant is that navlets 30 are loadable into user memory 38by way of a memory medium, preferably RAM, flash ROM, mini hard drive,CD-ROM, or DVD.

Another variant may use navlets 30 loadable into user memory 38 bywire-conducted or wireless transfer, for example infrared or radio, froma PC, laptop, or PDA.

In a further variant, navlets 30 are loadable into user memory 38 bytransfer from a server via broadcast, for example DAB, or individualcommunication, for example GSM.

The navigation system depicted schematically in FIG. 2 is operated inaccordance with one embodiment of the method according to the presentinvention explained below.

The method according to one embodiment of the present invention providesfor additional information relevant for navigation to be loaded into thenavigation system in the form of user programs that, as navlets 30, areusable by the driver and/or by other persons present in the vehicle.

The navigation section 10 functions may be used by naviets 30 viainterfaces 34, 36 of the navigation system. The navigation section 10functions used by navlets 30 may, in particular, include:

-   -   querying and setting destinations and intermediate destinations        by way of destination addresses or destination coordinates;    -   querying the present position as text or coordinates;    -   querying the current route list 16;    -   querying the estimated driving time to the next (interim)        destination;    -   functions for setting parameters, for example the times for        periodic calls or criteria for geometric notification;    -   querying the type of navigation section 10 and the revision        status of the firmware, the type and revision status of the        database (map), etc.

In one embodiment, each navlet 30 may execute predefined functions. Oneportion of the functions of navlet 30 may be directed toward the user'sparticular requirements, i.e. toward the requirements of the driver ofthe vehicle and optionally other vehicle occupants. Another portion ofthe functions of navlet 30 may include standard functions.

Each navlet 30 may include an initialization function that is called upwhen navlet 30 is installed for the first time on the navigation system.This function may be used to explain the manner of operation of navlet30 to the user, or to inquire as to the user's preferences.

Each navlet 30 may further include a delete function which is called upwhen navlet 30 is removed.

A start function, which is called up once when the vehicle is started orwhen the navigation system is initiated, may be yet another function foreach navlet 30 in another embodiment of the present invention.

Each navlet 30 furthermore may include a function for periodic calls,which are called up at regular time intervals and are used by navlet 30to update internal data.

In a further embodiment, each navlet 30 may have a text notificationfunction which is called up when a match or partial match exists betweena given text and the instantaneous destination address, intermediatedestination address, address of the instantaneous position, or an entryin route list 16; different notification functions can be defined forvarious criteria.

Each navlet 30 may include a geometric notification function which iscalled up when a predefined geometric criterion is met. Geometriccriteria can be, for example, the distance to a given point or thelocation within a specific region (state, district, city, neighborhood).

Each navlet 30, in a further embodiment, may include furthernotification functions, such as arrival of a Traffic Message Channel(TMC) message or a message of another service, for example GSM.

The sale and transfer of navlets 30 may be effected via conventionalmedia, for example CD-ROM and DVD, or via the Internet. It is alsopossible for companies to make navlets 30 available at no cost on theirInternet home page, in order to facilitate access by their customersand/or to combine vehicle navigation with advertising.

1. A method for operating a navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:determining, using a positioning system, geographic position data of thevehicle; transmitting the geographic position data to an electronic dataprocessing device having access to a database and a digital road map;determining a location of the vehicle on the digital road map inaccordance with the geographic position data; outputting a destinationguidance instruction to a driver of the vehicle at least one of visuallyand acoustically; and loading into the navigation system additionalinformation relevant for a navigation as a program including a navlet,the navlet being usable by at least one of the driver and another personin the vehicle, wherein: at least one specific function is executed bythe navlet, the at least one specific function is at least one of afunction directed toward the user requirement and a functioncorresponding to a default setting, and the navlet includes a geometricnotification function that is called up when a predefined geometriccriterion is met.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the navletaccesses functions of a navigation section of the navigation systemusing an interface of the navigation system.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the navlet uses at least one of the following functionsof a navigation section of the navigation system: a) querying andsetting a destination and an intermediate destination using one of adestination address and destination coordinates; b) querying a presentposition as one of text and present position coordinates; c) querying acurrent route list; d) querying an estimated driving time to a nextdestination; e) setting a parameter of the navigation section, theparameter including one of times for periodic calls and criteria forgeometric notification; and f) querying a type of the navigationsection, a revision status of a firmware, a type of a database, and arevision status of the database.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the navlet includes an initialization function that is called upwhen the navlet is first installed on the navigation system.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the navlet includes a deletefunction that is called up when the navlet is removed.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the navlet includes a start function thatis called up when one of the vehicle is started and the navigation isstarted.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the navlet includesa periodic call function that is called up at regular time intervals toupdate internal data.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein thenavlet includes a text notification function that is called up when oneof a match and a partial match exists between a given text and one of aninstantaneous destination address, an intermediate destination address,an address of an instantaneous position, and an entry in a route list,the text notification function being definable according to at least oneof user-specified criteria and predetermined criteria.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the navlet includes at least one furthernotification function, including an arrival of one of a Traffic MessageChannel and a GSM message.
 10. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe predefined geometric criterion includes one of a distance to a pointand a location within a specific region.
 11. A navigation system for avehicle, comprising: a positioning system; a database including adigital road map; an electronic data processing device having access tothe database; an input unit; an output unit outputting at least one of avisual destination guidance instruction and an audio destinationguidance instruction; a navigation section including a navigation devicethat is functionally self-sufficient; a device section for executing auser program; and at least one interface connecting the device sectionand the navigation section wherein: the user program includes a navlet,and the navlet includes a text notification function that is called upwhen one of a match and a partial match exists between a given text andone of an instantaneous destination address, an intermediate destinationaddress, an address of an instantaneous position, and an entry in aroute list, the text notification function being definable according toat least one of user-specified criteria and predetermined criteria. 12.The system according to claim 11, wherein the navigation sectionincludes the positioning system, the database, a route list, a routecalculation module, a destination guidance unit, the input unit, theoutput unit.
 13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the devicesection includes a user memory and a virtual machine.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the navlet is stored in the user memory.15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the device section isconnected to the navigation section using two of the at least oneinterface.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the user memoryis connected to the navigation device of the navigation section by afirst interface and the virtual machine is connected to the input unitand the output unit by a second interface.
 17. The system according toclaim 13, wherein the navlet is loaded into the user memory by using atleast one of a RAM, a flash ROM, a mini hard drive, a CD-ROM, and a DVD.18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the navlet is loaded intothe user memory by one of a wire-conducted transfer and a wirelesstransfer from at least one of a PC, a laptop, and a PDA.
 19. The systemaccording to claim 18, wherein the wireless transfer is one of aninfrared transfer and a radio transfer.
 20. The system according toclaim 13, wherein the navlet is loaded into the user memory from aserver by one of a broadcast transfer and an individual communicationtransfer.
 21. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least oneadditional interface is included for data transfer in the navigationsystem, the additional interface being used by the navlet.
 22. Thesystem according to claim 21, wherein the additional interface is one ofan infrared interface and a radio interface.
 23. The system according toclaim 11, wherein the navlet is written in a platform-independentprogramming language.
 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein theplatform-independent programming language is the Java programminglanguage.
 25. The system according to claim 11, wherein the navletincludes internal data and at least one function, the function being atleast one of a function directed toward a user's particular requirementsand a standard function.
 26. The system according to claim 25, whereinthe standard function is at least one of: an initialization function; adelete function; a start function; a periodic call function; a textnotification function; a geometric notification function; and a furthernotification function.